Brrrr in Berlin

It had been six years since my last trip to Berlin, and this one was to celebrate a few milestones: Dan's big 3-0, his becoming an architect, and us putting up with each other for the past 3 years! We arrived on a Thursday lunchtime to the realisation that minus temperatures had also just turned up too. Never to be put off by bitter winds we started a jam packed weekend of tourism: warming up with Gluhwein at the Christmas markets in Gendarmenmarkt and Charlottenburg Schloss, brunch in the rotating restaurant of the Fernsehturm, winding our way up the Reichstag dome, visiting the Checkpoint Charlie museum, exploring the tombs of the Holocaust Memorial, checking out the stall at the Mauerpark flea market, walking along the wall and seeing the great architecture and exhibits of the Neues Museum. It's incredible to believe that the history of this city is still so young and from what we hear it's an ambitious city where people think you can do anything.

Prune Conserve

Today we popped along to the car boot sale at Epsom Hospital where Ben Smithers was selling his childhood for a bargain. I was enticed into buying an old Kodak camera for £1, which I've given to Brother Dowle to add to his collection, and bought these sweet jars of homemade jams. It's such a beautiful day, fingers crossed that it'll last for my last week at work!

TLV: Spending Sheqels

The Flea Market in Jaffa is open throughout the week though mainly on Tuesdays and Fridays. There are bric-a-brac stalls and permanent vendors, such as shoe makers, Aladdin's caves of everything that comes to your imagination - hundreds of hanging scissors - and trendy homewares.

Nahalat Binyamin is an arts and crafts market which we wandered through on Friday. You can buy from delicate glass vases to faces carved into wood.

Ha Kamel is the food in Tel Aviv which is open early everyday. The sight and smells of the fresh fruit, veg and herbs is incredible as well as spices and teas. Baklava, pastries and sweets are also for sale.

Gavriel by Rubi Israeli is a homewares store, a bit like Laura Ashley but a tad more vintage. Alongside crockery and vases, there is jewellery, globes and even an old car. I bought a cute glass cup and saucer for just 10NIS (£2!)

Sabon started off in Israel but now has shops around the world - except in the UK! It's interior is like an old chemists shop and sells gorgeous products.

The Farkash Gallery in Jaffa has a massive range of vintage posters, many from El Al airlines and tourism artwork. I got one of a woman working on a kibbutz.

The Palais Des Thes on Dizengoff is an upmarket tea shop which sells a variety of loose teas and beautiful Japanese teawares. We were greeted with a mango tea taster too.

...and that's just a taster!

Images 1&2: Jaffa Flea Market 3: Jersularm Arab Quarter 4: Ha Kamel market 5: Rubi Israeli

Flea Flitter

I can't wait for summer to arrive and to go wandering round Wimbledon Flea Market to find some treasures. This image by Gemma Booth got me thinking about wandering round stalls, finding some bargains, though perhaps not dressed as fashionably! It felt like the weather was getting warmer... but then it changed its mind! 

Image by Gemma Booth

Saturday Shoppers

On Saturday we went shopping in London. We had lunch in Busaba, on Bird Street next to Selfridge's, and it was delicious. I'd describe it as a Thai version of Wagamama's! We also headed over to Brick Lane to have a look at American Apparel rummage store (here's my bros footage of the riot the day before there which was used by the BBC!) but there wasn't anything I wanted there. Instead we had a wander round the indoor markets! I bought a cute vintage skirt!

Flohmarkt

I love visiting fleamarkets and I love Berlin, so Flohmarkt am Mauerpark is a great combination of the two. It's in Prenzlauerberg in East Berlin where I stayed in 2008 for an architecture trip, it's a beautiful suburb of the city. At Stil in Berlin, lots of the subjects have bits 'n pieces picked up from there - I want to visit!

Back in Blighty

I've returned from the quiet of the Dordogne, having had two weeks of exploring old villages, chateaus, wandering through markets and brocantes, making some purchases on the way... So many photos were taken and I'm looking forward to having some film developed! Puck enjoyed his first trip abroad, this photo was very serendipitous!

Tomorrow I start my architectural work internship (eee!)

Mein Geburtstag

I turned twenty on Wednesday!! I received a plethora of books...

and I was most excited to received Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin, I can't wait to get started! I've already made a 'thanks' stamp for thank-you notes!

During the day we went to the flea market again at Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium (with all the tennis going on down the road) and Mother Dowle, my friend Rachel and I got our mits on some bargains!

Leather belt 50p
Leather holdall £1 (Rach also got 2 bags for the same price - absolute bargain!)

All in all I had a lovely day and I'm looking forward even more to my bbq party on Sunday!

Bargain Hunt

Every Wednesday at Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium there is a flea market. Some of the stuff up for grabs is utter tat but you can also find some little treasures at bargain prices, as Ben and I found out!

Salt and Flour shakers £3
Purple sherry glasses £2
And I even haggled on the sherry glasses - so proud of myself! Ben bought a lovely pair of old binoculars in a leather case and a man's shaving set.

As yet I have no particular use for either purchases, but hey, isn't that the idea!